Forked lever and grooved member construction



United States Patet [72] Inventor: Harold A. Mcllntosh South Pasadena, California [21] Application No.: 716,416

[22] Filed: March 27, 1968 [45] Patented: Aug. 4, 1970 [73] Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company Richmond, Virginia a Corp. of Delaware [54] FORKED LEVER AND GROOVED MEMBER CONSTRUCTION 12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl. 137/607, 74/104; 251/38, 231 [51] Int. Cl. Flok 19/00, F16k 31/44 [50] Field ofSearch 137/605,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,648,124 11/1927 Hopkins 25l/86XR 2,332,556 10/1943 Breese 137/434XR Primary Examiner Robert G. Nilson Att0rneysAuzvi1le Jackson, Jr., Robert L. Marben, and

Candor and Candor ABSTRACT: This application discloses a linearly guided member to be reciprocated and moved along a straight axis of motion and containing a V groove means transverse to said axis of motion. The groove means may be a circular groove with opposed spaced V groove bottom portions. A pivoted lever means has a pivoted position substantially perpendicular to said axis and has fork tines straddling said V groove means with parallel opposed inward edges tapered to form V shaped edges substantially in engagement with said bottom portions. The guided member may have a pilot modulating a valve diaphragm with a pilot passageway and a bleed opening.

Patented Aug. 4, 1970 Sheet IIO I36 IO6A I06 I I4 INVENTOR. HAROLD A. MclNTOSH FIG-I HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 4, 1970 Sheet 2 INVELNTOR. HAROLD A. Mc'INTOSH HIS ATTORNEYS KW mw NN WU m m A f D L 0 R g. M VI 5 L O 5 U w 6 m ,8 rl- FIG-4 Patented Aug. 4, 1970 loz #I HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 4, 1970 Sheet FIG-6 INVENTOR. HAROLD A. MCINTOSH HIS ATTORNEYS UiS. PATENT 3,522,822 FORKED LEVER AND GROOVED MEMBER CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to a forked lever and grooved member construction.

A feature of this invention includes a linearly guided member to be reciprocated and containing a V groove means transverse to the motion of said guided member and a forked pivoted lever which can be substantially perpendicular to said guided member with opposed inward edges straddling said groove means and substantially in engagement with the bottom portions of said groove means. Conversely, the guided member may rock the pivoted lever.

Another feature of this invention includes fork tines with inwardedges that are sprung apart by the groove means when said tines are straddled.

Other features of this invention are apparent from this description, the appended claimed subject matter, and/or the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a generally vertical diagrammatic cross section ofa valve construction embodying this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic cross section taken along the line 2-2 ofFIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is an end view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view of a cold and hot water system including the valve construction of this invention.

FIGURE 5 is an end view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a top view, taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1. 7

FIGURE 7 is a detail viewtaken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a cross section taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 1.

7 FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic view along the line 10-10 of FIGURE 1.

The forked lever and grooved member construction of this invention may be used for many purposes where it is desired to translate the arcuate movement of the lever means into the linear reciprocating movement of the grooved member and vice versa without backlash during such operation.

This invention will be specifically disclosed and described in connection with a hot water and cold water system.

After a full description of the water system, the operation and construction of the lever and grooved member will be more fully described.

This invention may be used in connection with a hot and cold water system, such as is shown in FIGURE 4. For example, the system may be one used in residences, apartments, offree buildings, commercial buildings and the like. A common cold water supply may be connected to a cold water branch 20 which branch may be connected to a hot water heater 22, which maybe thermostatically controlled, if desired, to provide substantially constant temperature hot water. Another cold water branch- 24 may be connected to cold water branches 2 6 and 28, with the branch 28 being connected to a cold water valve 30, which may be controlled by a knob or lever 32. The valve 30 may be connected by connection 34 to a common faucet 36.

The cold water branch 26 may be connected to the cold water inlet or inlet wall 38 of the valve construction 40 of this invention.

The hot water heater 22 may have a hot water outlet pipe 42 which maybe connected to the hot water inlet, or inlet wall 44 I, of thejvalve construction 40.

In FIGURES land 2, the cold water inlet wall 38, and the A hot water valve seat 54 is provided in the hot water inlet connection 48. Also a cold water valve seat 56 is provided in the cold water connection 46.

A hot water pilot diaphragm 58 is provided in modulating relationship with the hot water valve seat 54. The diaphragm 58 may have a hot water pilot passageway 60 and a hot water bleed opening 62.

An adjustable hot water pilot 64 may be provided in modulating relationship with the hot water pilot passageway 60. A hot water pilot adjusting means 66 may be provided for adjusting the hot water pilot 64 in modulating relationship with said hot water pilot passageway 60, The construction is such that the valve seat 54, the diaphragm 58, with its passageway 60 and bleed opening 62, and .the pilot 64 cooperate to provide a modulated hot water stream 68 from the hot water inlet 44 into the mixing chamber 50. Ordinarily there is no sudden stopping and starting of the hot water stream 68 into the mixing chamber 50.

A cold water pilot diaphragm 70 is provided in modulating relationship with the cold water valve seat 56. The diaphragm 70 may have a cold water pilot passageway 72 and a cold water bleed opening 74.

An adjustable cold water pilot 76 is provided in modulating relationship with said cold water passageway 72. A cold water pilot adjusting means 78 is provided for adjusting the cold water pilot 76. The cold water pilot adjusting means 78 adjusts the cold water pilot 76 in modulating relationship with the cold water pilot passageway 72, The construction is such that there is a modulated cold water flow 80 from said cold water mixed water produced in the mixing chamber 50. The thermostat construction 82 cooperates with thermostat construction responsive adjusting means 84. Such thermostat construction adjusting means 84 adjusts the hot water pilot adjusting means 66 and the cold water pilot adjusting means 78.

The thermostat construction adjusting means 84 adjusts the hot water pilot adjusting means 66 to increase the amount of hot water introduced into the mixing chamber 50 while adjusting the cold water pilot adjusting means 78 to decrease the amount of cold water introduced into the mixing chamber 50, and vice versa. That is, conversely, the thermostat construction adjusting means 84 may adjust the cold water pilot adjusting means 78 to increase the amount of cold water introduced into the mixing chamber 50 while adjusting the hot water pilot adjusting means 66 to decrease the amount of hot water introduced into the mixing chamber 50.

The mixing chamber wall 52, the hot water inlet wall 44, the cold water inlet wall 38 and a water discharge wall 86, or discharge outlet 86 may be homogeneously bonded together i as a unitary valve construction. Such homogeneous bonding may be of the type produced by casting these parts Also the hot water inlet connection 44, the hot water valve seat 54, the cold water inlet connection 38, and the cold water valve seat 56 may be wall constructions homogeneously bonded together with said mixing chamber wall 52, said hot water inlet wall 44, said cold water inlet wall 38, and said water discharge wall 86, also to form part of the unitary valve construction.

The water discharge wall or outlet 86, ofthe valve construction 40, may be connected to an all hot water or a mixed hot and cold water pipe 88, FIGURE 4, which may be connected to an all hot water, or a mixed hot and cold water valve 90 which may be gradually opened and closed by the knob or handle 82 of the valve 90 The valve 90 may be connected by connection 94 with the faucet 36.

The valve construction 40 may thus be connected to any water discharge or consuming device 96, FIGURE 4, which may consume or discharge all cold water by opening only the cold water valve 30. The user may have all hot water, or mixed hot and cold water by opening only the hot or mixed water valve 90, while adjusting the handle 98 to cause the valve construction 40 to discharge either all hot water into the pipe 88 through the outlet 86, or mixed hot and cold water of a selected ratio or temperature, which is determined by the adjustment of handle 98, of the valve construction 40, as more fullyelsewhere described. v

A hot water pilot cavity wall 100 and a cold water cavity wall 102 may be provided which form respectively hot and cold water cavities 104'and 106. Each of the cavity walls 100 and 102 may have pilot bearing means 108 and 110respectively. The respective cavities104 and 106 are connected respectively to the hot water inlet wall 44 and to the cold water inlet wall 38 through the respective pilot passageways 60 and 72 and the respective. bleed openings 62 and 74. The respective pilot cavity walls 100 and 102 engage and are sealed to one side of the respective diaphragms 58 and 70, and engage such diaphragms at the diaphragm rims 112 and 114.

Hot water and cold water actuating levers 116 and 118 are provided respectively with inner ends 120 and 122 of each lever in the respective pilot cavities 104 and 106.

The levers 116 and 118 have respective outer ends 124 and 126. The levers 116 and 118 are fulcrumed at fulcrums 128 which are carried by washers 130 which are-held down by externally threaded nuts 1321 The levers 116 and 118 are hermetically sealed by the flexible seals 134, which tightly surround the inner ends of the levers, and have their rims sealed by the washers 130. The lower ends 120 and 122 of the levers have forks 136 with relatively sharp inner edges 138, FIGURES 7 and 8, which engage grooves 140 in the plungers 64 and 76. Theplungers 64 and 76 may be hexagonal in cross section and slidingly engage the circular bearing means 108 and 110, so that the fluid pressure and cavity action of the cavities 104 and 106 extend into the sub-cavities 104A and 106A adjacent the rods. The construction is such that the pressures within the cavities 104, 106, 104A and 106A are equalized so that there is substantially no endwise thrust produced on the plungers 64 and 76, and so that there is substantially no rightward or leftward pressure action at the outer ends ofthe rods 116 and 118. V

The plungers 64 and 76 have pointed plunger extensions 143 which cooperate with the funnel-shaped ends of the passageways 60 and 72, to produce a modulating action wherein the water passing into the valve seats 54 and 56 is in the nature of a steady stream, instead of the usual sudden on and off closing action which is produced by the usual pilot diaphragms and pilot plungers. The valve seats 54 and 56 are slanted, as shown in FIGURE l, so that stability is imparted to the diaphragm constructions particularly when the diaphragms reach fully closed positions or nearly closed positions. The slanting construction of the seats 54 and 56 eliminates the tendency to hunt at such extreme settings ofthe plungers.

The thermostat construction 82 may be of any desired construction. For example; it may be a well known power pill 142 which contains fluid or semi-fluid material expanding and contracting in response to the temperature of the surrounding medium. Such power pill has a plunger'l44 which moves outwardly and inwardly from the end of the power pill. Such power pill is sold by the Fulton-Sylphon Division of Robertshaw Controls Company of Knoxville, Tennessee. It is commonly used in automobile cooling radiators or in other parts of the automobile cooling system so that its piston 144 moves inwardly and outwardly at water temperatures of the type herein-contemplated.

Preferably, the thermostat or-pill 82 is mounted in the central valve or mixing chamber 50 in a suspended manner. The dimple 146 of the bottom wall ofthe casing ofthe pill 82 rests on a small spherical boss 148 projecting inwardly from the bottom of the chamber 50. The chamber cover 150 contains tures. The chamber cover 150 also has another O-ring 156 which forms a seal along the rim of the mixing chamber wall 52, the cover being secured on top of the mixing chamber wall tend outwardly from opposite vertical slots 166 in the side walls 168 of the spring casing 170. The side walls 168 support the top wall 172 which has a downward dimple 174 to hold the upper end of the compression spring 176. The spring 176 is held between the top wall 172 and the disc 162, to allow the disc 162 to rise and fall in response to temperature changes in the pill 82.

The lever 160 is a U-shaped lever with two side arms 160A, FIGURE 6, which extend rightwardly, FIGURE 6, and are secured to afulcrum pins 178 which are vertically adjustable in the side walls 168. l

A U-shaped wire spring 180 has its ends 182 hooked into openings in the side walls 168 of the spring casing and the spring 180 zigzags as shown in FIGURES l, 3 and 5, so that the base 184 straddles the side members 160A of the lever 160 and pushes the lever 160 downwardly. The end 188 of the lever 160 engages a bent cam 190, which is secured to the end 126 of the lever 118 so that upward and downward movement of the end 188 against the cam 190 causes the lever 118 to rock back and forth as indicated by the arrow 192, while the lever 160 rocks about the arrow 194. The rocking movements 192 and 194 cause rightward and leftward movement of the upper end 126 of the cold water lever 118.

A motion transmitting rectangular frame 196, 198 is made up of U-shaped members 196 and 198, which are secured together by screws 200 in slots 202. The frame is rightwardly biased by tension spring 203, the ends of which are hooked into a bar 205 one member 196 and a lug 207 on cover 150.

The lever 118 is secured in an opening in U-shaped member 196 and is held in place thereon by the cam member 190 i which is fastened by a pin 204 to lever 118. The U-shaped member 198 has an opening through which the end 124 ofthe lever 116 passes and is held thereon by means of a cap 206 which is held on the lever 116 by a pin 208.

. The rectangular frame member 198, 198 causes the lever 116 to rock back andforth along the double arrow 210 whenever the lever 118 rocks back and forth along the double arrow 192.

The fulcrums 178 of the arms 160A of lever 160 pass through slots 213 in the sides 168 of the spring casing 170. The fulcrum pins 178 are secured, by soldering or the like into a block 212 into which an adjusting screw 214 extends and is threaded therein. The screw 214 is rotationally free, but longitudinally fixed by the washer constructions 216 on'the cover 172 of the casing 170. The adjusting knob 98 is secured to the upper end of the screw 214, so that the screw may be turned by the knob 98 to adjust the fulcrum end oflever 60.

Any type of baffle construction 218 may be placed in the mixing chamber 50 to cause the hot water and cold water to mix thoroughly together in the mixing chamber. The thermostat or power pill 142 may be placed where it will be responsive to the mixed water rather than being responsive to the valve casing walls and the like. In view of this, the power pill is supported on an isolated platform 220, which carries the spherical boss 148 and holds the power pill 142 at a place where it is responsive to the mixed water. In the embodiment shown, the pill 142 is in a position where the waters entering the mixing chamber 50 swirl about the power pill in a manner to impart an average temperature thereto. If desired, however, the power pill may be moved to any other suitable location, where it will be in the path ofthe mixed water produced in the mixing chamber 50.

In the operation of this invention when using hot and cold water, such cold water is introduced into the valve construction 40 at the cold water inlet 38, hot water is introduced into wall or outlet 86. Hot water from the heater 22 is generally of a fixed temperature, since the heater 22 is thermostatically controlled. If the user desires cold water only, he opens the cold water valve 30 and cold water is discharged through the connection 34 to the faucet 36. lf the user desires substantially all hot water only he adjusts the knob 98, to adjust the lever constructions and the like in combination with the thermostat 82, so that the cold water diaphragm 70 is placed substantially against the cold water valveseat 56 to close such seat 56 so that only hot water can enter through the hot water valve seat 54 and be discharged through the outlet wall 86, pipe 88, hot water valve 90, connection 94, and faucet 36. The user can regulate the volume of both the hot water and the cold water or the mixed water by the degree of opening of the valves 30 and 90.

The diaphragm constructions 58 and 70 are modulating diaphragms in which,. under ordinary conditions, the diaphragms are spaced somewhat from their respective valve seats 56 and 56, and the plunger points 143 are spaced from the diaphragms so that a modulated and continuous hot water stream 68 and cold water stream 80 may be discharged into the mixing chamber 50.

This modulating action of the diaphragms is obtained by providing pilots 64 and 76 with adjusting mechanisms which may hold the plungers spaced from the diaphragms, so that a continuous modulating action takes place, instead of a sudden on-off action which is the usual operation of pilot diaphragms wherein the pilots engage the diaphragms and cause them to close completely. 1

The linearly guided members or pilot members 64 and 76 are guided in the tubular bearing members 108 and v1H0 so that they are reciprocated and moved along a straight axis of motion such as indicated by the section-line 2-2 ofFllGUlRE l.

The actions of the two guided members 64 and 76 are substantially the same insofar as the motions are concerned, and therefore further description will be mainly limited to one of the members, such as 76, it being understood that such description applies to either of such members 64 and 76 and their cooperating levers 116 and 118, etc.

The construction of the operating lever 118 in the pilot member 76 provides a low cost and effective means for eliminating the play, or backlash, so common to linkage means for translating arcuate motion to linear motion. However, this construction may be used in any similar motion translation mechanism where the arcuate travel is oflow magnitude.

The linearly guided member 76 may contain a V groove or groove means 146, transverse to the axis of motion, 2-2 in FIGURE 1. Opposite portions, or diametrically opposite portions of such groove R40 are engaged by the pivoted, forked lever or lever means 118, which may have a pivoted position, as shown in lFlGURE I, when the lever means 1118 is substantially perpendicular to the reciprocating member 76 and to its axis ofmotion, 2-2 in FIGURE 1. i

The lever H8 has forked tines or forks 1136 with inward edges 1138 which 'are tapered to, form substantially knife edges These tines or'forks 136 straddle the V groove means 140 with parallel opposed inward edges 138 tapered so such edges can be' in substantially engagement with the diametrically opposed bottom portions of the V groove, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. Such edges 138 can tightly contact such bottom portions, if desired. For example, the distance between the edges 138 before engagement of the fork with the bottom portions may be sufficiently less than the distance between such bottom portions to insure an outward spring action of the tines 136 when the edges 138 straddle and engage said bottom portions of the V groove.

The groove means 140 may have a circular bottom, and the guided member 76 may be guided in straight bearing means which'may include separate bearings on each side of the groove means M0. The member 76 may be hexagonal in cross section. As shown in connection with the valve means illustrated in the drawings, the lever means 118 reciprocates the member 76, but it is obvious that in connection with other structures the linearly reciprocating member can pivot the pivoted leverv As shown in the drawings the guided 76 has a pointed pilot 143, FllGUlRlE 2, which modulates the valve diaphragm 76, by being spaced from the pilot passageway 72, FIGURE 1. The diaphragm 70 has a bleed opening 74 so that the diaphragm can be held in modulated condition, as previously described.

As shown in lFlGUlRlE l, and other lFlGUlRlES, there may be another similar guided reciprocating member 64, another similar diaphragm 58, another pilot 14l3, lFllGURlE 2, modulating such other diaphragm 58, another pilot passageway 60 and another bleed opening 62 in diaphragm 58, as shown in lFllGUlRE l.

The reciprocating member 76 has the pointed reduced size end piece or pilot M3 that cooperates with the pilot opening or passageway 72 so that substantially no longitudinal thrust is placed on the member 76. Also the member 76 has two round bearings on each side of the fork 136 and groove 140 to allow the pressure to equalize at each end ofthe member 76.

The construction is such that there is substantially no end thrust on the member 76 and there is practically no turning force produced by the member 76 on the lower end of lever 118,

Certain words may be used in this specification, and in the claimed subject matter, which indicate direction, relative position, and the like. Such words are used for the sake of clearness and brevity. However, it is to be understood that such words are used in connection with the views in the drawings, and that in actual use, the parts so described may have entirely different direction, relative position, and the like. Examples of such words are vertical horizontal "upper and lower etc.

It is thus to be seen that a new, useful and unobvious forked lever and grooved member construction has been provided.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed, as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

I claim:

1. ln combination, a linearly guided member to be reciprocated and moved along a straight axis of motion and containing a V groove means transverse to said axis of motion and with opposed spaced V groove bottom portions on opposite sides of said member and directed toward each other, and a pivoted lever means having a pivoted position substantially perpendicular to said axis of motion and having fork tines straddling said V groove means with parallel opposed inward edges tapered to form V shaped edgesdisposed in said V groove means and substantially in engagement with only said bottom portions to permit pivotal movement of said lever means and axial movement of said member relative to each other.

2. A combination according to Claim 1 in which said edges tightly contact said bottom portions.

3. A combination according to Claim 1 in which said guided member is guided in a straight bearing means parallel to said axis of motion.

i. A combination according to Claim 1 in which said groove means has a circular bottom,

5. A combination according to Claim l in which said bot- I tom portions of said groove means are portions of said circular bottom.

6. A combination according to Claim 1 in which said guided member is guided in aligned straight bearings on each side of said groove means.

7. A combination according to Claim it in which said guided member is a hexagonal sided member and is guided in a 10. In combination, a linearly guided member to be reciprocated and moved along a straight axis of motion and containing a V groove means transverse to said axis of motion and with opposed spaced V groove bottom portions on opposite sides of said member and directed toward each other, and a pivoted lever means having a pivoted position substantially perpendicular to said axis of motion and having fork tines straddling said V groove means with parallel opposed inward edges tapered to form V shaped edges tightly in contact with said bottom portions, the distance between said edges before engagement with said bottom portions being sufficiently less than the distance between said bottom portions to insure an outward spring action of said tines when said edges straddle and engage said bottom portions.

11. In combination, a linearly guided member to be reciprocated and moved along a straight axis of motion and containing a V groove means transverse to said axis of motion and with opposed spaced V groove bottom portions on opposite sides of said member and directed toward each other, and a pivoted lever means having a pivoted position substantially perpendicular to said axis of motion and having fork tines straddling said V groove means with parallel opposed inward edges tapered to form V shaped edges substantially in engagement with said bottom portions, said guided member having a pilot modulating a valve diaphragm with a pilot passageway and a bleed opening.

12. A combination according to Claim 11 in which another guided member similar to said first named guided member has another pilot modulating another valve diaphragm with another pilot passageway and another bleed opening similar to said first named valve diaphragm, pilot passageway and bleed opening. 

